The USDA awarded $175,000 to Utah State University in Logan for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery services through telemedicine, St. George News reports.
The funding is through the USDA's 2019 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program, which has awarded funding in 10 states this year for a total of $2.75 million. Utah State University will use the grant to support video conferencing programs, education and substance misuse treatment.
Between 2000 and 2015, Utah saw a 400 percent increase in deaths resulting from abuse and misuses of prescription drugs, according to Sandra Sulzer, USU health and wellness specialist.
"To combat [opioid overdose deaths], we need better treatment resources in our rural areas," said Maren Wright Voss, USU health and wellness assistant professor, according to the report. "The USDA funding will be used to enhance the equipment and broadcast curriculum for peer support specialist trainings in rural Utah."